What sound card or dac to buy? - Frank25 - Computer Audio Asylum

Computer Audio Asylum

Music servers and other computer based digital audio technologies.

What sound card or dac to buy?

I would like to upgrade my PC sound system. Its currently a Creative XFI Xtreme Music sound card with M-audio StudioPro4 speakers, i use EAC top rip my cds to .wav files and Foobar to playback. This setup is in my bedroom and is where i do most of my listening. Surprisingly it sounds halfway decent, but the speakers are quite small and dont have much power so there isnt any low bass. So what im looking for is a new higher end soundcard/dac and new active monitors. I dont want to spend to much maybe around $1000 total but the budget is flexible.
If I got with a DAC, will I still be able to control the volume from my PC like I do now??? Id rather have control of volume from my pc rather than having to add a pre-amp which would add considerable to my budget, and is just another component in the signal chain. Im not really an audiophile, but I love music and good sounding equipment. Ive been looking at a bunch of differant sound cards and Dacs
1. M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 and 24/192
2. ESI Juli@
3. Emu 1212m
4. Firestone Audio Fubar2
5. Scott Nixon USB dac
6. Stereolink USB 1300
Those are just a few that ive seen that are within my budget. Then I need speakers. Id like to get just a pair of bookshelf active monitors to start and then add a sub later on. So im looking for the best active monitors in the $500 range. I want something larger and more powerful then my current tiny M-audio Studiopro4. Any ideas??
Is this the right way to go about putting together a PC based system for the bedroom if I dont want to go with a full system with seperates and everything?? Any better ideas??
thanks

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Topic - What sound card or dac to buy? - Frank25 08:10:27 12/1/06 (14)

Consider the Auzentech .... - hinduclient 06:58:43 12/2/06 (1)

Re: Consider the Auzentech .... - demetane 20:39:31 02/4/07 (0)

Re: What sound card or dac to buy? - Slothman 17:06:21 12/1/06 (1)

Re: What sound card or dac to buy? - Frank25 07:49:07 12/2/06 (0)

Gotta agree with Dawnrazor, here - Triodeuser 12:29:57 12/1/06 (0)

Re: What sound card or dac to buy? - Dawnrazor 08:25:01 12/1/06 (8)

Re: What sound card or dac to buy? - Frank25 07:56:49 12/2/06 (7)

Re: What sound card or dac to buy? - Dawnrazor 09:28:23 12/2/06 (6)

Re: What sound card or dac to buy? - Frank25 08:12:53 12/3/06 (5)

Re: What sound card or dac to buy? - Dawnrazor 14:35:47 12/3/06 (1)

Re: What sound card or dac to buy? - Frank25 06:37:15 12/4/06 (0)

Re: What sound card or dac to buy? - aljordan 12:57:14 12/3/06 (2)

Re: What sound card or dac to buy? - Frank25 06:39:36 12/4/06 (1)

Re: What sound card or dac to buy? - aljordan 18:19:19 12/4/06 (0)

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